Optionally 17-(hydrocarbon-substituted) 17-oxygenated-3alpha-alkoxy-5alpha-androstanes



United States Patent Ofice Patented Apr. 7, 1964 OPTIONALLY 17-(HYDROCARBflN-SUBS'IITUTED) 17 OXYGENATED 30c ALKQXY a ANDRG- STANES Raymond E. Counsell, Sitokie, and Paul D. Klimstra, Northbrook, 11]., assignors to G. D. Searle & (30., (311icago, IEL, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,016

8 Claims. (Cl. 260-39744) The present invention is concerned with novel 17-oxygenated-S-alkyl ethers of the androstane series and, more particularly, with compounds of the structural formula ples of lower alkynyl radicals are ethynyl, propynyl,

butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, and the branched-chain groups isomeric therewith. The lower alkanoyl groups comprehended in the X term are illustrated by formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, and the corresponding branched-chain isomers.

A starting material suitable for use in the manufacture of the compounds of this invention is 313-p-tolylsulfonyloxy-5a-androstan-l7-one. This material is heated with a lower alkanol to afford the corresponding 3a-(lower alkoxy) compound. Reaction of these 3oz-(lower alkoxy)-17-ones with a reducing agent such as sodium borohydride results in reduction of the 17-keto group, thus providing the instant 17fl-ols. On the other hand, the aforementioned 3a-(lower alkoxy)-17-ones can be converted to the corresponding 17a-(lower alkyl)-17,8- ols by reaction with an appropriate organometallic reagent such as an alkyl magnesium halide or a lithium alkyl. Furthermore, reaction of those 17-ones with a lower alkyne in the presence of an alkaline catalyst or, alternatively, with an alkali metal alkynylide, for example a sodium or potassium alkynylide, or with an alkynyl magnesium halide results in the l7oc-alkynyl-l7fl-ols of the present invention. Catalytic reduction of the latter substances affords the instant 17a-(lower alkyl)-17{3-ols in which the lower alkyl moiety contains more than one carbon atom.

These processes are-specifically illustrated by the following typical examples. The reaction of the starting material, 3fi-p-tolylsulfonyloxy-Soc-androstan-17-one, with methanol at the reflux temperature produces 3ct-methoxy- 5a-androstan-l7-one, which substance is contacted with sodium borohydride and aqueous isopropyl alcohol at room temperature to afford 3oc-methoxy-5a-androstan- -01. When 3a-methoxy-5a-androstan-17-one, on the other hand, is allowed to react with methyl magnesium bromide and the resulting adduct is hydrolyzed with aqueous ammonium chloride, 3-methoxy-l7a-methyl-5ocandrostan-17B-ol is obtained. The instant 17a-ethynyl 3u-methoxy-5oc-androstan-175-01 is obtained by allowing the aforementioned 3u-methoxy5o -androstan -17-one to react with acetylene in the presence of potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. Reduction of that l7a-ethyny1 compound by hydrogenation in the presence of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst results in 17a-ethyl-3ot-methoxy-5a-androstan-l7B-ol.

The lower alkanoate esters of the present invention can be obtained by acylation of the corresponding 175- ols. A specific process suitable for this purpose is illustrated by the reaction of 3a-methoxy-l7a-methyl-5uandrostan-l7fl-o1 with acetic anhydride and pyridine at the reflux temperature to produce the corresponding 17- acetate. hydrocarbon substituent the acylation can be conveniently conducted at room temperature.

The compounds of this invention display valuable pharmacological properties. They are, for example, potent hypocholesterolemic agents which possess the particular advantages of lacking potent androgenic and anti-estrogenic side effects.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are set forth by Way of illustration only, and it will be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited in spirit or in scope by the details contained therein, as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In these examples, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.). Quantities of materials are expressed in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 A mixture of 44.5 parts of 3,6-p-tolylsulfonyloxy-5aandrostan-l7-one and 400 parts of methanol is heated until the solid dissolves, at which time the resulting solution is heated at reflux for about 72 hours. Distillation of the solvent at reduced pressure affords a residue, which is extracted with ether. This ether solution is washed successively with water, dilute aqueous sodium carbonate, and water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate containing decolorizing carbon, then stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The resulting residue is recrystallized from hexane to afford needle-like crystals of 3amethoxy-Sa-androstan-l7-one, which melts at about 1245-1265 and is further characterized by an optical rotation of +82 in chloroform. This substance is represented by the structural formula In the case of the instant 17fi-ols lacking a 17- p =13 EXAMPLE 2 To a solution of one part of 3ot-methoxy-5a-androstan- 17-one and 20 parts of isopropyl alcohol is added a solution of 0.8 part of sodium borohydride in 8 parts of isopropyl alcohol containing 1.5 parts of water, and the resulting reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 2 /2 hours, then is poured slowly into a mixture of ice and water. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water, then To 40 parts by volume of 3 molar ethereal methyl magnesium bromide is added dropwise with stirring a solution of 2 parts of 3a-methoxy-5a-androstan-17-one in 42 parts of ether over a period of about 30 minutes. The resulting reaction mixture is heated at reflux for about 6 hours, then is stored at room temperature for about 16 hours. It is poured slowly into a mixture of ice and water containing ammonium chloride, and the ether layer is separated. The aqueous layer is then extracted with ether, and this extract is combined with the original ether layer. The total organic solution is washed successively with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid and dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then is dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate containing decolorizing carbon. Recrystallization from aqueous methanol affords pure 3amethoxy 17a methyl a-androstan-17p-ol, M .P. about 141.5-143"; [a] =-14 (chloroform). It is further characterized by the structural formula A mixture of 171 parts of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and parts of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether is heated to about 130, and 36 parts of potassium hydroxide is added with stirring. The resulting mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature with stirring, then is cooled further by means of an ice-alcohol bath to about 0, at which time a stream of acetylene is passed over the surface of the mixture. A solution of 6.5 parts of 3amethoxy-5a-androstan-17-one in 47.5 parts of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether is added over a period of about 3 hours, during which time acetylene addition is continued. After completion of the addition of the latter solution, the addition of acetylene and stirring are continued for about one hour longer. Approximately 100 parts of water are then added, and this aqueous mixture is poured slowly into about 1200 parts of a mixture of ice and water containing 65.5 parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water, and dried in air. The resulting crude product is dissolved in 200 parts by volume of a 1:3 mixture of acetone and ether, and that organic solution is decolorized by treatment with activated carbon. Distillation of the solvent under nitrogen affords a residue, which is recrystallized from aqueous methanol, resulting in pure 17m ethynyl 3a methoxy 5rx-androstan-l7fl-ol methanolate, melting at about 6265 and displaying an optical rotation of 38.5 in chloroform. It is further characterized by the structural formula EXAMPLE 5 To a solution of 1.5 parts of 1'7a-8thY1'1Yl-3oc-I1'1Cth0XY- Sea-androstan-IZB-ol in 16 parts of ethanol is added 0.15 part of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst, and the resulting reaction mixture is shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at atmospheric pressure and room temperature until 2 molecular equivalents of hydrogen are absorbed. The catalyst is removed by filtration and washed on the filter with ethanol. Concentration of the filtrate to dryness under reduced pressure affords a residue, which is recrystallized from aqueous ethanol to yield pure 17a-ethyl-3amethoxy-5a-androstan-17,8-01, melting at about 107-108". It is characterized further by an optical rotation of .CI'IgOH CHaO" 11.5 in chloroform and by the following structural formula OH iCH2CHI CII3O-- EXAMPLE 6 O C O CH3 H3 L H EXAMPLE 7 The substitution of an equivalent quantity of 3a-methoxy-Sa-androstan-Ufi-ol or of 17a-ethyl-3a-methoxy-5aandrostan-Ufi-ol in the procedure of Example 6 results in 3ot-rnethoxy-5a-androstan-17,8-01 l7-acetate and 17a- 6 ethyl-3ot-methoxy-h-androstan-17 6-01 l7-acetate, respec- 4. 3a-methoxy-l7a-methyl-5a-androstan-17,8-01 l7-acetively. tate.

EXAMPLE 8 5. A compound of the structural formula By substituting an equivalent quantity of propionic 5 CHa 1. A compound of the structural formula CH3 CH3 E 20 References Cited in the file of this patent H UNITED STATES PATENTS anhydride and otherwise proceeding according to the proc- CH3 I esses of Examples 6 and 7, 3a-methoXy-5a-andr0stan- 175-01 17-propionate, 3oc-methoxy-l7a-methyl-5a-androstan-17fi-ol 17-propionate, and 17u-ethy1-3a-methoxy-5a- 15 wherein R is a lower alkyl radical.

6. 3a-methoxy-17a-rnethyl-5 oc-andr0stan-17B-o1.

androstan-17fl-ol 17-pr0pionate are obtained.

What is claimed is:

7. 17ot-6tl1Yl-3oc-HlfithOXY-Soc-EllldIOStflH-l7(3-01. 8. 17u-ethyny1-3a-rnethoxy-Sa-androstan-17/8-ol.

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of car- 1 a wbonyl, ,B-hydroxymetnylene, u-(lower aJkyD-B-hydroxy- 13 2; a1 3: methylene, fl-(lower alkanoyDoxymethylene, and a-(IOW- 2267759 Serim. et a1 1941 er alkyn'fimwer alkanoynoxymethylene radlcals' 25 2:332:486 Hi1debrandt e t al. Oct: 19: 1943 2. 3a-methoxy-Soc-androstan-l7-one. 3. 3oc-meth0Xy-5a-androstan-175-01.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 128 292 April I 1964 Raymond E Gounsell eta1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 5 for "3-methoxy-" read we 3 1-meth0xy "0 d this 27th day of October 1964,

Signed and seals (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNE$T W. SWIDER Attestmg Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 